Denver Museum of Nature & Science Features Live
NASA Coverage and Local Experts

DENVER-July 17, 2012-NASA's Mars Science
Laboratory (MSL) mission will land the
"mega-rover" Curiosity-the largest mobile spacecraft
ever launched to another planet-on Sunday, August 5. The Denver
Museum of Nature & Science is hosting an event for this
historic moment in space exploration. Visitors are invited to join
the Museum's Mars scientist, Dr. Steve Lee, and experts from
Lockheed Martin, Sierra Nevada Corporation, United Launch Alliance,
Southwest Research Institute, the Space Science Institute, and the
Museum to learn about this ambitious mission and what's in store
for the new rover.

"We are excited to be hosting a public event for the opening of
this next major chapter in Mars exploration," said Lee, the
Museum's curator of planetary science. "We hope visitors of all
ages will join us for the live landing coverage and maybe even see
Curiosity's first views of its new home on Mars!"

During its two-year mission, Curiosity will analyze
dozens of samples drilled from rocks or scooped from the ground
using an extensive payload of scientific gear. Curiosity
is about twice the size and five times as heavy as the extremely
successful twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity, which have
been on the Red Planet since early 2004. Curiosity's
target is the base of Mount Sharp, a mountain of layered rocks
rising 18,000 feet above the floor of Gale Crater. Observations of
this region from orbit by earlier Mars missions indicate liquid
water was present here at some point in the past.
Curiosity is expected to assess whether the crater has
ever had or still has environmental conditions favorable for
supporting microbial life.

About the Denver Museum of Nature &
Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain
Region's leading resource for informal science education. A variety
of engaging exhibits, discussions and activities help Museum
visitors celebrate and understand the natural wonders of Colorado,
Earth and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado
Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. To learn more about the Museum,
check www.dmns.org,
or call 303-370-6000.

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Many of the Museum's educational programs and exhibits are made
possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area
through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District.